A number of SF Giants players are away from camp competing in the World Baseball Classic. San Francisco\u2019s most recent addition, second baseman Luis Arraez, is known as a contact hitter, but you wouldn\u2019t know it based on what he did for Team Venezuela on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
Arraez went deep not once, but twice<\/a>, as he helped lead Venezuela to a dominant victory over Team Israel, 11-3. Arraez had four hits in total on the night and drove in five runs. That came after he drove in two runs in Venezuela\u2019s first WBC game so he is definitely hot at the plate right now.<\/p>\n Luis Arraez showing SF Giants he has a little pop in his bat<\/p>\n The three-time batting champ has never been known for his power. The most home runs he has had in a big league season was when he hit 10 back in 2023 with the Miami Marlins. Perhaps it\u2019s fitting that he hit two big flies at LoanDepot Park which is where the Marlins play.<\/p>\n Giants fans probably shouldn\u2019t get too excited about Arraez\u2019s power potential, though. Something tells me he\u2019s not going to have 20 homers and put five balls into McCovey Cove this year. The Giants just want him to be a guy who hits over .300<\/a> and provides some contact and consistency in a lineup that mostly leans upon guys who swing and miss a lot.<\/p>\n A bigger question than what he does with the bat is what he does with his glove. Arraez signed with the Giants because they were willing to let him play second base even though his defense is not highly regarded<\/a>. He\u2019s played there in the past and infield coach Ron Washington has already been hard at work getting him ready at the position.\u00a0<\/p>\n